Latin American beats had been joined with flamenco by gitanos since at least the 1950s, mixing complex strumming with rhythmic, percussive tapping on their guitars' tops. The new Reyes generation — soon to meet and join up with three guitar-playing brothers from the Baliardo family — began creating more pop-oriented songs. They played at roma parties and at street corners until they got their chance to record under the group's new name, Gipsy Kings.
Sharp-eyed individuals might have noted that all the left-handed members of the group play guitars strung upside-down; this is usually as a result of the individuals' not having their own guitars when growing-up. Borrowing and playing a right-hander's the wrong way up was the only way to learn.
Band's story
They became popular with their self-titled first album, Gipsy Kings, which included the songs "Djobi Djoba ", "Bamboleo " and the romantic ballad "Un Amor". The song "Volare" on their second album Mosaique is a rumba version of Domenico Modugno's Italian hit "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu". The Gipsy Kings were enormously popular in France and throughout Europe along with the middle east. In 1989, Gipsy Kings was released in the United States and it spent 40 weeks on the charts, one of very few Spanish language albums to do so. Their cover version of "Hotel California" is an excellent example of fast flamenco guitar leads and rhythmic strumming (this version was featured in the Coen Brothers' movie The Big Lebowski).
In 1991 the Gipsy Kings provided flamenco guitar and backing vocals on Bananarama's version of "Long Train Running", using the pseudonym "Alma de Noche" ("Soul of the Night"). Also in '91, for a multi-artist project called "Simply Mad About the Mouse" — a compilation of new versions of songs from Disney films — the Kings contributed an annaly-crafted, fast-paced rumba flamenca version of "I've Got No Strings" from "Pinocchio" - replete with feverish flamenco guitar leads and rhythmic hand-claps (palmas). The lyrics' enthusiasm for freedom, not being tied down, fit the gipsy creed perfectly.
Their 1993 album "Love and Liberte" won the Latin Grammy Award for "Best Pop Album of the Year," and contained the enduring song "Montana," an emotional account of Roma chased from their birthplace by prejudice and persecution.
The '95 compilation "The Best of the Gipsy Kings" went platinum, staying on the charts more than one year. Albums "Mosaïque," "Allegria," "Este Mundo," "Gipsy Kings Live," "Love & Liberte," "Tierra Gitana," "Cantos de Amor" and "Volare! - the Very Best of the Gipsy Kings" went gold.
Lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo — who has always written the group's instrumentals — released his first solo album, Essences, in 2001; a second self-titled one followed in 2003.
Flamenco purists criticized their use of drum kits, electronic bass, and electronic keyboards and rock and reggae beats. Defenders say they helped create a new style.
Gipsy Kings' total album sales worldwide now exceed 18 million; they toured worldwide again in 2007. They are the world's best-selling music group from France in history, according to their website, where dates and places of their current tour can be found.
Years active: from 1987 till present.
Members
Gipsy Kings are members of two related families: the Reyes and the Baliardos (Reyes means Kings in Spanish). They are cousins of the flamenco great Manitas de Plata, lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo married his granddaughter. Nicolas, Canut, Paul, Andre and Patchai Reyes are sons of flamenco singer Jose Reyes. The Gipsy Kings are:
Nicolas Reyes: lead vocals, guitar
Paul Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Canut Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Patchai Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Andre Reyes: backup vocals, guitar
Diego Baliardo: guitar
Paco Baliardo: guitar
Tonino Baliardo: lead guitar
Chico Bouchikhi was also a member of the Gipsy Kings, but quit after the album Mosaique.
Solituda
Gipsy Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
encerrado en la puerta que no me quede un amigo
y esta mi mar amarrada abandonado y solito
pero mi vida, se enclavara
se enclavara como las aguas de un rio
pero mi vida, mi vida, se enclavara
como las aguas que un hombre ha vivido.
para, para, para, para......
Rolling through life like a poor pilgrim
locked at the door and no friend is left for me
and my sea is bound, abandoned and alone
but my life, will be pierced
will be pierced like the waters of a river
but my life, my life, will be pierced
like the waters that a man has lived
para, para, para, para......
The lyrics of Gipsy Kings' song Solituda depicts the melancholic state of a person who is rolling through life like a poor pilgrim, feeling deserted and abandoned. The singer feels left behind as he is locked at his door, and there is no friend left to share his sorrows with. The sea, which symbolizes his life, has been long tied up, and he is left alone, facing the waves of life. Despite everything, the singer hopes that his life will be enclavara like the waters of a river, marking his journey with experience and growth. He believes that his life will be pierced, much like the waters of a river that has flowed for ages, carrying with it the wisdom and struggles of all those who traversed its path.
The lyrics of Solituda resonates with many people who feel lost and alone in their journey of life. The song suggests that the struggles of life shape us, and we should embrace our challenges for they are instrumental in shaping our personalities. The song inspires people to have hope and persevere despite the overwhelming hardships of life, with the belief that one day, they will come out of their struggles as a stronger, better version of themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Rodando por la vida como un pobre peregrino
Rolling through life like a poor pilgrim
encerrado en la puerta que no me quede un amigo
Locked at the door and no friend is left for me
y esta mi mar amarrada abandonado y solito
And my sea is bound, abandoned and alone
pero mi vida, se enclavara
But my life, will be pierced
se enclavara como las aguas de un rio
Will be pierced like the waters of a river
pero mi vida, mi vida, se enclavara
But my life, my life, will be pierced
como las aguas que un hombre ha vivido.
Like the waters that a man has lived
para, para, para, para......
Stop, stop, stop, stop......
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRUNO BALIARDO, JALHOUL BOUCHIKHI, MAURICE BALIARDO, NICOLAS REYES, PATCHAI REYES, PAUL REYES, TONINO BALIARDO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Recep Halil Gültekin
on Un Amor
Vuoi amare Bedla